Stay Safe in an Emergency

Do not touch the victim until the circuit has been turned off - unplug the appliance from the outlet or turn off the power at the fuse box or circuit breaker first.

If you're sure the circuit has been turned off, administer first aid (CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if you are certified). If the victim is unconscious or not breathing, call 911, making sure to tell the dispatcher it is an electrical accident.

Always seek medical help for an electrical contact accident. Electricity burns from the inside out, so some injuries might not be visible; the heart also can be affected several hours after the contact.

Don't allow anyone to touch or drive over a power line. Always assume a downed line is dangerous - even experience line mechanics can't tell if a line is energized just by looking at it.

If you're in a car accident involving a power line, stay in your vehicle until help arrives. If you must leave the vehicle, hop out on both feet, without touching the car and the ground at the same time. Continue hopping with your feet together until you're as far away as possible.

In its natural state, natural gas is colorless and odorless, so utility companies like Alliant Energy add a distinctive odor: rotten eggs. This additive makes even the smallest leaks easier to detect.

If the odor of rotten eggs is faint, check range burners and the pilot lights on your gas appliances. If the odor is strong or comes on suddenly, get everyone out of the house immediately. Call your gas company or 911 from a neighbor's phone right away.

Don't stop to open a window, and don't touch anything that might create a spark, such as a light switch, lamp or even the telephone. If possible, stay away from carpeted areas to avoid sparks of static electricity.

An appliance that isn't working properly can create deadly fumes of carbon monoxide (CO). When humans breathe in carbon monoxide, it enters the bloodstream and depletes oxygen from the blood cells.

The early effects of carbon monoxide exposure mimic the flu, with symptoms like headache, nausea, fatigue and dizziness. If the flu-like symptoms are NOT accompanied by fever, if everyone in the family is ill, or if the symptoms disappear when you leave the house, it could be CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide emergencies are often detected by family or friends visiting or telephoning a disoriented victim; if you notice any of these symptoms in someone you know, take the victim outdoors and call for help.

If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, open up windows and doors, and call a service technician to inspect your appliances right away.